Football: Get ready for big Troy Thomas speech _ or not

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It’s Anaheim Servite taking on Santa Ana Mater Dei on Friday night at Angel Stadium in front of thousands of fans and a tape-delayed television audience.

So you would think Servite Coach Troy Thomas would prepare an emotional pregame talk to his players, right?

‘I don’t give speeches before the game,’ Thomas said.

Say what? Didn’t Thomas go to Encino Crespi and play for Bill Redell, the man who gives lots of talks?

‘We say a prayer and we go out and play,’ Thomas said.

So much for the influence of Knute Rockne.

‘We talk to them all the time about their character and how they act,’ Thomas said.

It seems to be working. Servite is 7-0 and has won 18 consecutive games.

-- Eric Sondheimer